by our College Data Analytics Team
[Marine Engineering](/majors/engineering/marine-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their marine engineering graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the early-career earnings of their marine engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send marine engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Maine Maritime Academy tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying marine engineering schools in the United States. Set in the rural area of Castine, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. After graduating, marine engineering degree recipients from Maine Maritime Academy typically earn about $127,327 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in marine engineering will find them at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public institution. After graduating, marine engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Maritime Academy typically earn about $117,114 annually.
Suny Maritime College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying marine engineering schools. Located in the city of Throggs Neck, Suny Maritime College is a public institution. Early-career marine engineering graduates from Suny Maritime College make a median of around $118,448 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in marine engineering will find them at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students who complete the marine engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,852.
Webb Institute came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying marine engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Cove, Webb Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Marine Engineering graduates of Webb Institute earn a median of about $75,834 a year early in their careers.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Marine Engineering rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their marine engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.